Newark janitor arrested on suspicion of molesting 9-year-old

Manuel Castro, 61, of Newark is being arraigned today on two counts of lewd acts against a child, Newark police wrote in a press statement. Castro, who works as a janitor at Schilling Elementary School, is accused of using candy to lure a nine-year-old girl away from view of other children and adults where, according to Newark police, he then touched her inappropriately. Police wrote that this happened twice, once this month and once in December.

The girl participated in an after school program at Schilling, where the incidents are alledged to have occurred, Newark police wrote.

Castro was booked into Santa Rita Jail Tuesday, police wrote. His bail was set at $120,000.

Police don’t think there are other victims.

We’ll have a full story about this in tomorrow’s paper.

Meanwhile, any person with information concerning this incident should contact Sergeant David Parks of the Newark Police Department at (510) 578-4247. Information can also be left anonymously on the “Silent Witness” hotline at 510-578-4000, extension 500.